soeng6 haa6 man4上下文
Jyutpingsoeng6 haa6 man4
Yaleseuhng hah màhn
Definition
Context; the text preceding and following a particular passage or word.
writtencommunication
How it's used
While this term is technically a noun, it is almost exclusively used in academic, literary, or formal discussions about text analysis. In casual daily speech, people are much more likely to use phrases like 前文後理 to describe the surrounding information needed to understand a situation or a statement.
Examples
This passage is taken out of context, which easily leads to misunderstanding.
Common phrases
taken out of context
ignore the context
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this word to refer to the general circumstances of a real-life situation, but it is strictly reserved for written or spoken text. For general circumstances or background information, use 前文後理 or 情況 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
